HT Aliaver/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma ??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma R1.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma NPC...................Captain.Lin.......Warrior.Normal/Human..Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, Game Web Site - http:/nrgcomputers.com/pbem/ Public posts/actions to pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to pnpgm@comcast.net Game Update #239 in sequence (file #1462) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: None. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions] Z'leyra briefly ponders doing a sending to the brain to communicate a request to join forces against the Vong, but realizes that she might need to do a Communicate spell as well...spells that likely would fail or abysmal vs the Vong type magic resistance. So instead she sheathes her greatsword and readies her staff while Sending to those she is in contact with that she was going over to the Portal to attempt to dispel it. She recasts Sidh Invisibility EL0 on herself (hoping to reduce the chance of being interrupted by damage), casts Levitation EL1 and approaches the Portal. There she will cast through her Staff a Balance Detection spell at EL0 to determine the alignment of the portal. Then depending on the alignment (Elder or Chaos) she will cast (Balance spells) through her Staff at Max EL Purification then Dispell/Banish Elder in an attempt to dispel the portal OR (Shamanic) Orient Self EL0 on herself, then through her Staff at Max EL Purification then Dispell/Banish Chaos. GM: Ack. -------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Augado 10th, 1634TH] [Location: Middle Katai Plains] [ Mountains west of Pamau] [Time: 2:58:54pm - Turn 3: Phase 2] Will glances back to the cave and prepares to cast a new spell and to mainly get away from Arawn and his prying hands. Z'leyra silently sheathes her greatsword and reaches behind her to get her staff to ready it for a spell. After looping down and to the south, Fremea reaims her bow toward a new flyer that has also tried to find her. She fires her arrow which divides into 5 more arrows. At only 25 feet the arrows hit their targets. One hits the rider and the other 5 hit the flying creature. The Rider is hit by the arrow in the middle right rear ribs doing minor damage. Three of the arrows bounce off the creature's hide. But the fourth penetrates deep inside the creatures chest doing 21 points of damage. This is enough to kill the creature which immediately tumbles and falls. The Rider falls to the ground some 300 feet below. Two down four to go. Two of the Riders pull pistols from belts and try to fire in random directions from the last known position of the arrows. But the bugs are straight and narrow. The bugs don't get close to Fremea. Suddenly a lone discard Amphistaff goes flying away from one of the dead door guards and flies toward Z'leyra. The side of the amphistaff hits her left arm but doesn't seem to damage her. Will quickly speaks the word to reappear near the Brain. Upon casting the spell though he discovers that he is still at the stairs. Will grumbles at the likely failure of the spell. Z'leyra knows her armor will grant her some protection from the odd flying things. The gods must be upset with her failure or maybe they are just giving her a hint? She casts a spell to become invisible upon herself and winks out of sight. Unali ends up near the railing to see why the crazed Giant just decided to do a flying leap. She can see her moving to the west. Then Unali's trail a bit south west and she sees the flyers. They look like the one she fought against when Nom Amor attacked. She quickly recalls the attack and sends out a quick tactical details to the Battle Mind. Just in case they get close. But they are a few hundred feet away so don't seem a threat. In fact they seem to be moving more south than east? Unali glances to the right where Chion is sleeping. Unali can smell the fumes of volcanic fire below. Glancing down she sees the ankle deep lava spilling out of the hole they just came from minutes ago. Though the earthquake is over the lava seems to pour out. So far the volcano may be in check but she has no idea how that could soon. With Chion down for now she considers a escape plan. "Who can teleport us outside? All of us?" Maybe she will risk further exploration until the last minute. Besides if someone like Arawn can't teleport them all out then what? Who will be saved? Unali glances up to the stairs above and knows Lin has gone up that way. She turns and motions for Farseeker and Ben'dar to help carry Chion. With free hands Farseeker joins Unali and helps haul him to a sitting position so he can be pulled up the stairs. Farseeker could lift him for some time but up 500 or so feet of stairs might be a bit daunting. He waves for Ben'dar to help him. Ben'dar nods and realizes that with the retreat a better plan might be formed to attack the Brain. At least no one is attacking it now. As the thoughts rushed through his mind Arawn pondered whether his previous suspicions had merit, that the invasion perpetrated on the Vong homeworld was instigated by Kototh. To pervert a peaceful race into savage warriors, who couldn't see the merit to anything but pain and suffering, seemed in line with the Serpent. Then there was the recurring motif of serpents in both helmet-crowns and staff-spears and finally the ancient portal hundreds of feet below, a reminder of a time long past where an entire population of peaceful humanoids were slaughtered for or by the Eldest Serpent, a gate close to another, the Vong portal, and he couldn't help but wonder at the connection. If there were gods that would wish the destruction of the Middle World for another chance to start over it would be Kototh for it was his actions that ushered in the age of the God Wars, when the forces of Law, Balance, and Chaos appeared for the first time and saw the First World sundered into the three worlds now known. The Brain could be the key to saving both the people of this world as well as the Vong race for if it was capable of emotion, of sapient thinking, then it might be reasoned with and with it's power serve as a means to share truth and instigate change among it's people and end the threat to the Middle World. But the problem now was, should he attempt to re-establish communication with the Brain immediately or speak to the person behind the warning shouted to the group seconds earlier. Already cursing himself for choosing poorly and breaking communication earlier he hoped he wasn't about to make another when he finally settled on seeking the speaker. Unsure who, what and where it might be he tried his best to sense it before calling out, Arawn tries to expand his sense to the cave to find the speaker But he nothing not even a lack of mana the life force he can sense the Vong. "Who warns us?! I need to speak with you now! I would communicate with the Brain, to hopefully save and bring peace to this world and the Vong world but I need to know what you know..." Kell wonders why the amphistaff just tried to fly toward the Healer? He pockets that thought for a later time. He glances to Arawn. He saw the Vong Outcast escape this world through the portal. Should he tell the Druid or not? Kell doubts there was another person but his. Lin up now one flight above the group yells down. "Outcast! Brain's defense will kill everything! Not his control." The Elemental lumbers to place and seems to just stare around the cave. Though it has no eyes it can sense people. The floor alerts to direction of movement. Like a fly on a human's skin the rock creature can sense the slightest shift in earth and pinpoint direction. Z'leyra sends to her fellow allies she intends to attack the portal with spells to destroy it. She conveys this through the Sending spell to Will, Unali and Fremea. Caladan listens to Lin and glances back to the cave. He is not sure if Lin is insane or controlled or in truth. Of all the party the man would likely be unused to withstand magic or such. Caladan walks toward the stairs and runs upstairs to get a better look of Lin's face. Kiet joins beside Kell and reshifts his grip on the javelin as sweat seems to make it slippery. The Brain takes in the scene around him both nearby and afar. Far below the earth has been opened by the vilips in order to erupt the volcanic should the Shaper Mother's orders not be stopped. Course that would only be a long term threat that would not do much at first. The long term threat would be enough to destroy the planet. But for that threat he would not act on unless he is in danger. He can also feel the pit carrion bugs as they are blasted by the lava now in the pit. Why the Shapers would kill so many humans just for some need to please some unseen gods he doesn't know. Even further below he can understand the latest reports on the humans who seem to wind through the tunnels. They are little threat to him directty so no need to act on them. Even before the group that just tried to attack him arrived he knew they were coming. But why warn the Shaper Mother? That wasn't his directive. The Vong knew they were invulnerable and their pride gets in the way. The Brain then checks the Command Throne and sees why Shimara is trying to act all calm for? Sure he has the one thing that can be annoying but the Supreme Commander is too arrogant. Inside the main cavern he can sense the flyers. Another one seems to fall from the sky. The Brain reaches out to sense the one who is attacking them. It is a tiny being based on the electrical magnetic discharge. But the Brain considers it only as a side. Nearby just moments ago the Outcast left this world back to the Vong Homeworld. Normally he can read the mind of the Vong but this one seemed to block his thoughts so he didn't know he was going to escape. This is a failure to his directive to control entry and egress. But maybe he shouldn't let Shaper Mother know? Rather her replacement as it looks like she was killed by the insane female with the pointy blades. That draws the Brain to the barrels. He is a bit lacking of water by his use of his Powers. He reaches out his mind to grasp a barrel. To the rock creature it is far away so little threat to him now. All this in a blink of an eye. For a Vong Brain who can control entire fleets of Coralskippers in space battles millions of miles away these simple thoughts are mundane. It is time the Brain decides what he should do with his new Powers. Maybe he can investigate this world. Nom Amor quietly mention the humans having gods in some plane of existence away from here. This intrigues the Brain. How could he pierce this void and investigate this area as well? He'll need the humans or the Vong. Granted the Vong are easy to control after all that is why he was made. The humans are so weak minded they would be easy. But he is told there are millions of them out there. He needs to secure his place here before they can even swarm him. ----------- [Time: 2:58:57pm - Turn 3: Phase 3] Will wonders if his luck is turned or just this place is protected. He prepares again energy to do the spell again. Z'leyra raises her staff to block her throat. It would not be good for a coufee to pierce her throat and kill her as it flew her way. She builds up more energy for a new spell. Still driving the Vong flyers down toward her goal, Fremea turns to fire another salvo of arrows. Four of the arrows fall past the flyer missing entirely. But one hits the flyer bouncing off the tough hide. The other hits the Vong in the back doing a couple points. Will speaks the magical words and disappears ending up a few feet away from the Brain. Finally his spell worked. Course if he had mass he'd be touching those yucky tentacles. Z'leyra casts her levitation spell and lifts up into the air. She moves silently back toward the cave entrance. She notices the rock elemental is still there and alters her course a bit. The Brain grasps the barrel with his telekinetic Power and lifts it toward him. Twisting the top he pours water from the barrel along the right side of his lobes. The Poltergeist giggles at the thought of annoying the human. With divine ability to track the Shaman, it hurls a large fist sized rock toward Z'leyra. It hits her in the middle left chest but does no damage as it shatters against her chainmail. The battle mind touches those affected through Arawn's mental connection. The gods seem to convey that destroying the Portal and the Brain may not be a very wise tactic. In fact the spell seems to press the fact into their minds. The leader finishes his orders and one of the flyers diverts from chasing the attacker and heads toward the east. The other two continue south. The one flyer that was just wounded by arrows in the wing can't control its tumble and just gives up as the life ebbs away. The wounded flyer drops like a stone toward the floor. The one Rider who was trying to control it falls as well toward the floor. Three down and three to go. Fremea continues flying toward her goal and is now it seems 60-70 feet from it. Hopefully in a few seconds should be able to get her plan moving. Raban continues to fly toward the flyers. He notices one diverts his way and 2 others seem to move away for some reason. Unali is torn between anger and concern. Z'leyra seems to wish to attack the portal. Unali has no idea what that will do or what the Brain will do for that. Then the Battle Mind seems to urge the leader into a strong suggestion not to do it. She looks around but can't seem Z'leyra. Did the Shaman already leave the area? She waves Farseeker up the stairs to take Chion. She waves Kell and Kiet to climb the stairs. Farseeker and Ben'dar drag the limp unconscious body of Chion up the stairs. Ben'dar isn't sure if the sailor will leave. He hopes Z'leyra can save him soon else no one leaves her alive if they need to escape. Arawn also gets the strong emphasis by the gods that they rather not have the portal destroyed. He isn't sure if that means now or ever. He knows the Sidh gods have had their issues with humans but even they might not want to risk a greater danger. So then why do they suggest the tactic of destroying the portal and the brain would be unwise? Arawn awaits for the reply from the voice but nothing is heard. Arawn continues his speech in hopes the voice will reply. ". now, before it's too late to speak with the World Brain!" Kell is unsure if she should leave the stairs to go up because he doesn't know the range of his control over the elemental. Lin continues climbing the steps now 2 flights above the Brain cave level. "Fools! We can stop the Brain! This way!" Caladan continues to chase Lin up the stairs. The Brain detects a change now. Then the brain hears a report from the two flyers that left the mountain. They tried to chase the flying chariot thing but could not stop it. They report a large human army of some 200 men are in the north west forest area moving toward the mountain. The pilot requests permission to attack and reinforcements. The Brain relays this information to the orb nearest to Shimara for the Shaper to seek orders. ----------- [Time: 2:59:00pm - Turn 3: Phase 4 - Current/Next phase] Actions? Comments? Next Update....Friday? GM: Missed some actions so had to guess on other actions. So we'll move on and continue the 2 phases per update until the attacks stop. Mana report updated. GM: Arawn - The speaking took 2 phases. I do count the words and the typical speed of those words. So if you try to give some big speech to stop a battle that is 500 words you'll be dead before you end. :) This is for all just a reminder that words do delay actions time wise. Fremea - Still going on planned action. Kell - Do you go upstairs or stay around? Unali - Wasn't sure if wanted to act on new info or go and listen to Lin. Will - Bad roll on the failure. :< So what is this plan on communicating with the Brain? GM: Spells active Will - Armor Transmutation, Mind Shield, Invisibility Insubstantialability Raban - Bless (OCV), Fist of Battle, Battle Mind Farseeker - Bless (OCV), Fist of Battle, Battle Mind Unali - Battle Mind, Mind Shield, Sending Arawn - Battle Mind, Bless (OCV) Fremea - Mind Shield, Sending, Multi-Arrow Z'leyra - Mind Shield, Sending, Invisibility, Levitate * = Soon to end (next update?]. I may NOT post this info unless I remember to do so. :) GM: Maps ---------------------------- Mount Side View - Scale - 1 Column = 15 feet 1 Row = 50 feet North=wall facing screen [Looking from one wall to the other wall. Toward North wall with back to south wall. Looking east/west.] 1 2 3 4 5 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 ____________________________________________________ I### Fake Vong ceiling ###IA I# #IB I# #IC I# #ID I# #IE I# #IFCave Cave 1-> `# #`G<-#4 I# #IH Cave 2-> `# #`I<-#5 I# #IJ Cave 3-> `# 2 Vong Foot Q <-1 flyer R <-Raban #`K<-#6 I# flyers-> Q Cave #6 World Brain -----/#IL I# Fremea -->T #IM I# @ <-Portal (Kotohi) #IN Mount I#T T#IO Ground --?I#]A_A_A_A_A_A_A_A____......._______V__V__V__V__V[#IP I Y